Q & A

HUD Approves Discrimination Settlement Between Puerto Rico PHA and Residents

June 13, 2019

HUD recently announced that it has negotiated an agreement between the Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority (PRPHA) and its residents who have disabilities. The agreement resolves allegations that a site under PRPHA’s jurisdiction was inaccessible to persons with disabilities for more than...

HUD Will Offer $5M for CO Detectors in Public Housing

June 13, 2019

HUD Secretary Carson recently announced that $5 million will be made available for the purchase and installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in public housing units where they’re necessary. The funds will be provided through HUD’s Emergency Safety and Security Program and...

HUD Proposes to Roll Back Transgender Protections at Federally Funded Homeless Shelters

June 13, 2019

HUD recently announced a forthcoming proposed rule that would roll back protections for transgender people experiencing homelessness by allowing federally funded homeless shelters whose facilities are segregated by sex (such as bathrooms and sleeping quarters) to establish an admission policy...

Test of New Physical Inspection Protocol Continues

June 13, 2019

In a recently issued Federal Register notice, HUD requested comments on a planned two-year continuation of the Uniform Physical Condition Standards for Vouchers (UPCS-V) demonstration. Comments are due by July 29, and more information on submitting comments can be found at...

House Committee Advances Housing Spending Bill

June 13, 2019

The House Appropriations Committee recently advanced a $137.1 billion spending bill covering transportation and housing, about $6 billion above current levels and $17.3 billion more than President Trump’s request. The measure was approved in a 29-21 vote, divided mostly along party lines....

PHA Can't Terminate Voucher for Single Off-Site Alcohol-Related Crime

June 13, 2019

Facts: A resident applied for the Section 8 program through the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC), and the Veteran’s Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program screened and approved him. The resident entered into a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)...

Resident Can Raise VAWA Defense in Court to Prevent Eviction

June 13, 2019

Facts: Following nonpayment of rent, a local PHA served a subsidized housing resident with an eviction notice. On the hearing date, the parties entered into an agreement that suspended the eviction action on the condition that the resident make a fixed monthly payment for use...

HUD Releases Income Limits for Fiscal Year 2019

May 9, 2019

HUD recently released fiscal year 2019 income limits that determine eligibility for HUD housing programs including Public Housing, PBRA Section 8, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, and Section 202/Section 811 PRAC. The release comes after a delay due to the partial government shutdown earlier...

House Committee Holds Hearing on Housing as Infrastructure

May 9, 2019

The House Financial Services Committee recently held a hearing entitled “Housing America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock.” The hearing explored the need to produce and preserve affordable housing as part of the nation’s infrastructure and...

HUD Proposes Banning Undocumented Immigrants from Subsidized Housing

May 9, 2019

Under Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended, undocumented immigrants can’t receive federal housing assistance, but families of mixed-immigration status can live in subsidized housing if at least one member of the household is eligible to receive...

Resident Didn't Present Enough Facts in Discrimination Lawsuit

May 9, 2019

Facts: A resident of Iranian national origin filed a discrimination lawsuit against the local PHA and its employees. The resident represented herself and filed the lawsuit on her own without an attorney’s assistance.

Bedbug-Affected Residents Can File Class Action Lawsuit

May 9, 2019

Facts: A group of residents of a Section 8 site claimed that the site manager didn’t do enough to protect them from bedbugs. Current and former residents of the site asked the court to certify a class based on the PHA’s allegedly inadequate response to a years-long...